Infusion apparatus, especially adapted for brewing coffee



Sept. 22, 1942. w; GA|R 2,296,607

INFUSION APPARATUS ESPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BREWING COFFEE Filed Dec. 14, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fry. I Fig. 4'.

ATTO R N EY B. W. GAIR Sept. 22, 1942'.

INFUSION APPARATUS ESPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BREWING COFFEE Filed Dec. 14; 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 3mm l i 64/2:

BY '1 v M,

1 IOFfiflC Patented Sept. 22, 194-2 ENFUSION APPARATUS, ESPECIALLY ADAPT- ED FOR BREWING COFFEE Blair W. Gair, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor of thirtythree and one-third per cent to A. J ensenia Gair and thirty-three and one-third per cent to Estella H. Gair, both of Brooklyn, N. Y.

Continuation of application Serial No. 122,881, January 28, 1937. This application December 14, 3940,,Serial No. 370,087

12 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in apparatus for making beverages from soluble substances and is herein particularly disclosed in the form of means for making infusions of coffee, although the invention is not thus limited.

Heretofore the making of coffee for drinking purposes has involved various steps with which considerable instrumentalities or parts such as those of the multiple container type, which necessarily assumed proportion of extended bulk,

have been utilized, and combined objects of this invention are the provision of a compact easily assembled arrangement of parts, which latter involve novel featuring, with the result that advantage in the method or steps used also become a part thereof.

In the embodiment of the invention selected for disclosure one particular size or dimensions of a certain element, such as a water heating device, with other elements proportionate thereto, is illustrated. The device or assembly comprising these elements is such as to be suitable for use in restaurants or like places, although, in accordance with another of the objects of the invention, a device which may supply the beverage for a large number of persons may also supply the infusion for a relatively small munber, such as found in the family, since yet another object concerned is the provision of an assembly of this character in which the coffee when prepared and properly ready for use, may thus remain for a prolonged period of time, with its original inherent, desirable flavor, appearance and aroma, as when a brew is not entirely immediately used.

Accordingly, on the principle of the illustrated means, the device is adapted for manufacture in a size with a capacity about the same as that of the so called coffee urn, batteries or multiples thereof, or it may be constructed in much larger dimensions than those shown.

In following the methodical steps of providing the brew, the capacity of the water heating means is such as to balance or cooperate with the capacity of a hot water reservoir or storage means. The latter is of such dimensions as to cooperate advantageously with the proportions of a hot water supply container or tank, and other features and advantages of these arrangements are herein disclosed.

Features of the invention of this application,

which is a continuation of my abandoned application, Serial Number 122,88l, filed Jan. 28,1937, reside in structural arrangements whereby water delivered from the hot water supply container or tank, into a holder for ground coffee, is caused 55 to flow upwardly, and in order to facilitate this upward flow, preventing any possibility of failure of action therein, cleaning means are provided, there being screen structures to control the grindings in the water and moving. brushes 00- operating with the screen means. .In this .man-

ner,'particles of grindings which are lighter than water are controlled with advantage, and the essences from the ground coffee are completely extracted. Any particles that are forcedthrough the screen means and cover of the .inner infusion container are caught in second. filtering means in the infusion container thereby. taking out all sediment and making a very clear extraction.

The compact unit illustrated includes dispensing means, although other features reside in removable dispensirlg containers as well as in a particular manner .of housing these containers. The latter are separately fittedinto a receptacle portion of the hot Water tank, and it is still another structural feature of advantage that the infusion container may be caused to discharge into a selected member ofplural dispensers.

According to the illustrated embodiment of the invention a stirring device with its brushes are revolved at the required rate by an electric motor having control means. The heating energy herein described is that of fuel gas, and water is supplied under the usualavailable pressure.

In practice, certain features of advantage have been incorporated in the gas heating device, as to the extent that with novel burner structure a very high rate of elliciency has been developed. Thermostatic control means are used, as presently further referred .to' and motor control means include both rheostat. and suitable switch means. The speed of revolution of the motor is accordingly controlled, as well as its starting and stopping, as before disconnecting'a drive shaft, for the purpose of adjusting, the infusion container or for recharging it with fresh ground coffee.

Hot water received in the supply tank from the storage reservoir is available under thermostatic control without loss of temperature, as for making an immediate run of coifee. When cold water, to replace water that has traveled or been used, as just stated, reaches the heating apparatus, the thermostaticmeans become active to release the fuel gas. During .this time hot water is still available in the water supply tank and reservoir, and when the wateragain becomes fully heated in said apparatus, such as on some occasions, no upward run is caused thereon, the thermostat again becoming active to shut off the gas, so that a continuous and controlled flow of water at the required temperature is always assured.

With the above indicated objects and advantages in View, and others which will hereinafter appear, the invention resides in certain novel constructions and arrangements of parts the essential features of which are hereinafter clearly described, and fully illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational View of an apparatus for making infusions of coffee in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof on a slightly reduced scale and largely in vertical section;

Fig. 3 is a View in perspective of a liquid containing reservoir;

Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of a dispensing container;

Fig. 5 is a plan view on a reduced scale of a platform member;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a section on the line of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a view in perspective of a liquid heating member;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view, similar to part of Fig. 2, but showing different positions of parts;

Fig. 10 is a central vertical section of a compound infusion chamber and filtering means;

Fig. 11 is a partial section on the line of Fig. 10; and

Fig. 12 is a section on the line Fig. 10.

As shown in said drawings, the apparatus includes a housing ID of polished sheet metal exterior finish having a front wall side walls l2, l3, and a back wall I4.

The housing I9 is provided with a relatively large front opening l5, the lower part of which corresponds with a front opening or recess IS in the aforesaid liquid reservoir, the latter being within the built up apparatus, and having its bottom part supported on bars or a horizontal frame I! within the housing. Extending from the lower portion or base of the housing H] are four legs or supporting members l8, each alike, of the required length, and having feet, not shown.

Removably seated on a bench l9 of the recess I6 of the reservoir, within the housing I0 is a coffee container and dispenser 29, and a second dispenser 2|, like the first. The apparatus includes a top hot water tank 22 and in the lower part of the housing are water heating appliances which include hollow pans one of which 23 is shown in Fig. 8.

The pan 23 has a lower hollow plate 24, an upper hollow plate 25, and a hollow connecting web 26, so that, water may move or circulate freely therein.

Assembled within the lower part of housing H), in clasping relation with the pan 23, is a second water heating pan, and the arrangement includes a water supply pipe 21, on which is a shutoff valve 28. The line 21 having a circulating branch 29 leading to the reservoir 30, delivers water as at a connection 3| (Figs, 1 and 2) into the lower plate or arm 24, from which as when water is heated therein, the flow continues through the Web 26 and arm 25, the latter having an outlet 32' therefrom and the outlet 32 in turn delivers the liquid fiow, at its upper end connection 33,

into the reservoir 30.

The connection or inlet tube at 3| for example,

. is fitted tight, being braized into the heater arm .top tank 22.

as in the case of all other connections herein. In some cases the connections may be madeby press fitting or the equivalent,'and in some places herein, watertight fittings are shown in the form of threaded nipples, with nuts, in some instances lock nuts, and in some cases gaskets are used.

At a circulating branch 34, the line 21 has a delivery 35 into a lower arm 36 of the second compound heating pan, the latter having an upper arm 31, from which a delivery branch pipe 38 communicates internally with the reservoir 30.

Rising from the top of the reservoir 39 and in internal communication therewith are four pipes 39, there being one pipe at each corner thereof, and these pipes communicate internally with the A lower connection 49, as already indicated, of a pipe 39 is seen, Fig. 2, at a ledge portion 4| of the reservoir, and at the upper threaded end of the pipes 39, a lock nut 43 is used.

The upper threaded ends of the pipes 39 terminate within the tank 22, as in a threaded nipple 44 having perforations therein. 44, which threadedly, tightly fits over the pipe 39, and a gasket 42 is provided thereat. Other locknuts, as at 43, are used in the sealing connection. The nipples 44 are closed or provided with plugs at their top ends, so that as heated water rises from the heating pans and reservoir, water circulation is aided and caused by virtue of said perforations. To further aid in water circulation, a pipe .39 may have its lower end extended downwardly considerably into the reservoir 39, and on the tank 22 are provided a thermometer 45 and water gauge 46.

A drain cock 4! is provided in the water circulating system, and in the reservoir 39. which also has therein two recesses 48, 49, is an opening 55. The opening 50 has secured therein a faucet 5|, through which hot water may be drawn off.

The outer sheeting ll of the front wall of the housing registers, at a top portion thereof, with the bench surface of the reservoir 30, and in said sheet portion are indentations which register with the front boundaries of the recesses 48, 49.

Between their opposite ends, the pipes 39 are incased in sheeting portions 52 of the rectangular cross-section, and these portions 52 are in effect continuation of the front and side wall outer coverings thereat. Joints or seams, as between a portion 52 and its body portion therebelow are of braized or soldered type, and the complete outer covering presents as' at these parts an unbroken and neat appearance.

The coffee containers or dispensers 29, 2|, fit snugly into the recess l6, and the liquids therein, as a feature of advantage is kept hot or at an equitable temperature by the embracing reservoir structures. Gauges 54 are provided on the containers 28, 2|, and faucets 55, 55, at lowermost parts thereof extend into the recesses 48, 49. The faucet stems, as seen in Fig. 2, at first depend slightly at their bases from the containers, and it is another feature of the arrangement that said stems are reinforced for strength so as to provide hand grip portions.

As seen in Figs. 6 and 7, a back wall 58 of a container has thereon a lip 51, and the container has on its top a cover 59. The cover 59 has a back rim 53 curled under slightly, which, when the cover is closed, latches around the curled rim 51, of the dispenser 20, and therefore, when a user grasps a handle and the aforesaid elon- The nipple gate stem of the faucet 56, the container is manipulable in a secure manner.

Transversely of the cover 59 is" said handle 85, two depending portions of which, as shown, pass through apertures 86 in said cover, but one of the apertures and depending portions being seen in the drawings, and there being atransverse indentation in said cover, in which the handle rests when not in use. The handle 85 is shown in dot-and-dash lines in an upper or working position atwhich time the illustrated nut acts as stopping'mea'ns.

The covers 59 are used in the assembly below a platform 6|. Apertures in the covers correspond with and like apertures 62, 63, presently referred to.

On the tops of the containers 28, 2i, rests the platform 6|, in which are apertures 62, 63, and on the platform 6| is 'an outer member or liquid holder 64of filtering and infusion apparatus in which is also an inner holder or chamber member 65. The member 64 has on the bottom thereof an eccentric'discharge nipple 66, which enters an aperture 62 or 63for' discharging in fusion into'a dispenser.

On'the member 64 is also a handle 61, and opposite the drain nipple 66' may be' aplug 68 for entering the other aperture 63 or 62. In this way,'fi1tered coffee is guided into a selected dispenser, the outer container being turnable into a predetermined position.

Within the outer member 64 is a cloth or fabric filtering bag or element 69, which suspends from a 'ring 91 for clamping the filtering bag over the rimof the member 64.

Fitting onto the inner container or jug 65, is a. cover'which includesa ring band 12 and in an inturned top portion of said band, which forms an annular hollow, is a gasket 19', which sealingly engages the top edge part of the member 65, and braized or soldered on the convex side of the hollow inturned flange portion of the ring band 12 is the outer margin of a filtering member or disc 13' of close mesh.

From the'ring band 12 extend upwardly four brackets one of which 14' is shown. The brackets 14 are bolted to the under side of the cover H, holding the ring band 12 thereto. From the ring band 12, opposite each other, extend two clampingspring fingers 15; one of which, with its end catch, is alsoshown, and these fingers therefore releasably embrace the inner filtering jar 65 at the bottom thereof, holding it firmly to the gasket in the ring band 12.

As a unit, the outer cover H, and the inner holder 64, are assembled and then the inner holder, as above indicated, is detachable from the elements T;

On a hollow shaft having a section TI is fastened a collar 18 (Fig. and embraced between nuts 19, 89', is said cover H, at its center. The nut 19 forms part of a depending bushing, which is free on the shaft section 11, and gripping the mesh disc 13 at a central aperture thereof are two other nuts as shown.

Fast on'the shaft part 11 and revolvable therewith, relative to the containers with. their covers is. a cleaning and stirring assembly which includes, viewing also Fig. 11, a cross bar 8!. The bar BI is split centrally where it is attached to the shaft, and descending from the cross bar andheld at their upper ends thereto are six like rods 82. 7 Bars 16, one on each side, (see Fig. 11) are boltedto the bar 8| 'and hold the cleaning brushes,- intwo segments; which 'brushingly engage the meshdisc 13 to continuously renew-e therefrom particles'of ground coffee, during' 'the revolution. V

The rods 82, as seenalso in Fig. 11, are metallically held' fast,- andslightly inclined-'at their lower ends, in a sheet metalchannel'member'lll, slightly oblique to the bar 8I'. Entirely around the channel 84 at its lower part is braized and sealingly held the boundary margin of a gauze or close mesh member 81. At a collar 88, the shaft 11 is fast with the'channel 84.

Means for revolving the shaft ll, having "the coacting part 89, and there being an interposed clutch means, as shown, include an electric motor in the circuit wiring ofwhich is a switch '91, and a rheostat of usual construction. The shaft 89 carries a bevel gear and, a motor shaft pinion has teeth of such number, meshing with the gear, as to reducethe revolutions of the shaft 89, TI to the required R. P. M. p I

From the tank 22 which has acover 9, extends downwardly a discharge pipe 92', on which isa control valve 93, and a part ofthi arrange'znent is a tooth clutch 94, elements of which are found on the shaft sections'll, 89, rendering-said sections separable, as shown in Fig. 9. The shaft section 89, with'its gear thereon/is manually slidable on the relatively fixed pipe'92 against the action of a coil spring 96, an'da the space between the clutch elements, when moved apart, enables release of" the chamber member 64, the latter is freely movable into and out of its.posi tion on the platform 6| within the housing;

Making the separable connection at the clutch 94 properly tight, when the clutch elements are meshed, a stub section of the pipe 92 descends from the shaft section 89- (see Fig. 9) and is fast therewith, this stub section being separable from the pipe proper 92; It is noted that a collar of the section 89 above the gear 95 revolves reliably within the lower end of the coil spring 96. Heated water or liquid descending through the pipe 92 and hollow shaft TI is discharged through the mesh element 8! of the channel member 84, and this element 8] is effective to prevent any. tendency of backward or upward movement of particles of grindings or the like through the pipe 11. On being discharged throughv th screen B'Lwater movement, through the ground coffee, and with its essence, is upward in. the container 65, past the rotating brushes 83, and then downward through the fabric screen 69 and discharge nipple 66 into dispensing container 29 or.2l.

A fuel gas supply line is shown at 98 with a control valve thereon and with this line is a thermostat connection 99. The, line 98 has thereon a gas burner I09 below the nested heating plates, and extending to the burner I00 isa line branch not shown having a pilot light terminal. The gas line and burner I00 have usual air mixing features, as well as a dished sheet metal lower shield I9 I having radical slots therein, which form interposed pointed segments. With this shield arrangement, which really acts as a secondary air. conditioner, it has been'found the use of gas is highlyeconomical; that is to say, while water is heated in the element 23, and all other elements, including the supply tank 22,

, the amount of gas consumed is very low.

For clarity, the positions of the heatingmembers which include said element 23 are shown in Fig. 2, in dot-and-dashlines, and in dash lines respectively. The plates of the heating members, while clasped in thest'ate'd'way, are spaced apart to accommodate flame from the burner I00 and form the back wall [4 of the housing extends an exhaust or flue, a portion I02 of which is shown.

.On placing a thermometer in the flue H12, the aforesaid description of high gas efliciency is well supported and the readings on the thermometer while the device is in operation is much lower than the temperature of the water in the reservoir and other described portion of the system. In practice, the heating appliances including the member 23 and associated heating member,

and the reservoir 30 and container 22, have, be-

tween them and the walls ll, I2, I 3, I4, asbestos, partly shown at 60, or other insulation for heat control.

With this description and the statements and showing herein the operation is disclosed. The hollow vertical fins of the reservoir 30, that is to say the side and back boundarie of the recess l6, taken also with the seat l9, embrace multiple flat sides of the containers 20, 2| with the stated advantage. When and if a single rectangular contained is used in the recess l6, fiat surfaces of the reservoir 30 embrace four sides of such container while the latter is easily inserted and removed from its position. The apparatus can be used with any number of containers for dispensing coffee. In this way the containers can be filled and removed with the brewed cofiee in them, and. the brewed coffee is dispensed elsewhere without loss of aroma and flavor. During the operation, a setting of the thermostatic control which maintains the heat of the water in the reservoir 30 at a temperature of about 200 F. to 210 F. has been found satisfactory. At this heating level it has also been found that a temperature of about 170 F. to 180 F. of the coffee iiithe containers 20, 2|, is also maintained.

may be used without others.

I claim:

1. In a coffee making apparatus, in combination, a top hot water tank, a filtering chamber having an inner vessel with a strainer forming a cover, an outer vessel spaced from the first vessel and having also a cover, said covers having central apertures, the outer vessel having a bottom discharge opening, a pocket strainer disposed in the space between the vessels, means sealingly holding the top part of the pocket strainer between thetop of the outer vessel and its cover, a rigid tube for hot water passing from the bottom of the tank through said apertures, said tube having its lower end disposed in the inner container, mean sealingly holding said tube in the apertures, a cross tube fast on said lower end and having its under side open near the bottom of the inner vessel and a strainer having its margin fastened to the cross tube around its open side.

2. An-apparatus for making infusions of coffee comprising in combination an upper hot water revolvable brush means for cleaning the under side of the strainer. 4

3. In an apparatus for making infusion of coffee having an upper water supply tank, a double walled filtering chamber therebelow comprising an inner grindings holding vessel having a strainer'for'ming a cover, an outer vessel spaced from the first vessel and having also a cover, a tube passing from the tank through the covers and having an ending near the bottom of the inner vessel so as to cause water to flow upwardly through the grindings and strainer, cleaning brushes engaging the under side of the strainer, means holding said brushes in revolvable relation on the tube, and means for revolving said holding means with their brushes.

4. In an apparatus for making infusions of coffee, in combination, an upper water supply tank, a double walled filtering chamber comprising an inner grindings holding vessel having a strainer forming a cover, an outer vessel spaced from the first vessel and having also a cover, a

tube passing through the covers and having an ending within the inner vessel near its bottom so as to cause water to flow upwardly through the grindings and strainer, a revolvable hollow shaft on the tube, means sealingly gripping the covers and wherein the hollow shaft is revolvable; brushes engaging the under side of the strainer; and means carrying said brushes and fixedly held on said shaft below said sealingmeans.

5. An apparatus for making infusions and extractions comprising in combination an upper hot water tank, filtering means comprising an inner vessel for grindings, said vessel having a strainer forming a cover, an outer vessel spaced from the first vessel and having an outer cover, pipe means passed from the tank through the covers and having an ending within the inner vessel near its bottom so as to cause water to flow upwardly through the grindings and strainer, a revolvable hollow shaft on the pipe, means sealingly gripping the covers around the pipe and wherein the shaft is revolvable, brushes engaging the under side of the strainer, a frame on which said brushes are fixedly held to said shaft, and means for revolving said shaft with its mounting, said latter means including an electric motor.

6. An apparatus for making infusions of coffee comprising in combination water heating means and having an upper hot water supply tank, filtering means comprising an inner vessel for grindings, said vessel having a strainer forming a cover, an outer vessel spaced from the first vessel and having also a cover, pipe means passing from the tank through the covers and having a low ending within the inner vessel so that water may flow upwardly through the grindings and strainer, a bag filter having its top part held on the top of the outer vessel and disposed in the space, the outer vessel having a lower discharge opening, a hollow revolvable shaft on the pipe, means sealingly gripping the covers around the pipe and wherein the shaft is revolvable a stirring frame fast on the shaft and including spaced vertical rods in the inner container, brushes mounted on the frame and engaging the strainer, and means for revolving said shaft with its frame and the brushes thereon.

'7. In an apparatus for making infusions of coffee, in combination, an upper hot Water tank, filtering means including an inner grindings receiving vessel having a strainer forming a cover,

an outer vessel having also a cover, a pipe leading from the tank and having a revolvable section passing through the covers into the inner Vessel, means sealingly gripping the covers and wherein said section is revolvable, a frame rigid with said section within the inner vessel and having On the top thereof brushes for cleaning the under side of the strainer, a cross tube forming the lower part of the frame and having an open bottom, a strainer disposed across the open bottom of the tube so that as water flows through the pipe and upwardly through the grindings and first strainer, the second strainer may prevent upward movement of particles through the pipe, and means for revolving said section with its frame.

8.111 an apparatus for making infusions of coffee comprising a grindings receiving vessel having a top strainer thereon, said strainer having a central bearing, a device having a hollow shaft revolvable in the bearing, a frame fast on the shaft and including a top cross unit having thereon brushes for cleaning the under side of the strainer, a bottom cross unit comprising a channel member having closed end and an open bottom, vertical spaced rods connecting said units, and another strainer disposed across the open bottom of said member.

9. In a cofiee making apparatus having an elevated hot water supply means, a leaching receptacle including an outer container having a top cover and a bottom discharge opening, an inner grindings container spaced from the outer container and depending from said cover, a screen cover for the inner container, a flexible filtering element depending from the margin of the closed top and disposed in the space between the containers, a pipe passing from the supply means through both covers and having its discharge end near the bottom of the inner container, said pipe having a revolvable section, means mounted on said section for removing particles from the underside of the screen cover, said pipe having also a fixed portion, and water control means carried by said portion.

10. In a cofiee making apparatus comprising in combination a housing, a filtering chamber including an inner vessel havin vertical walls with a strainer thereon forming a top cover, an outer vessel spaced from the first vessel and having also vertical walls with a top cover thereon, said covers having central apertures therein, a flexible strainer forming a pocket around the inner vessel and having its toppart held around the juncture of the outer vessel walls with their cover, the flexible strainer being disposed in the space, means projecting from the under side of the outer vessel cover and embracing the inner vessel, said means having a bushing in said apertures, and a hot water tube passed through the bore of the bushing, said tube having its discharge end disposed in spaced relation with the bottom of said inner vessel.

11. An apparatus for making infusions of coffee comprising in combination with upper hot water supply means, a double walled filtering chamber including an inner grindings receiving vessel, an outer vessel spaced from the first vessel, a strainer forming a cover for the inner vessel, a cover for the outer vessel, filtering means between said vessels, the outer vessel having a bottom discharge opening, a tube passing from the Water supply means through the covers and having its lower end open at the bottom of the inner vessel, whereby water may flow upwardly through the grindings and strainer and then downwardly through said filtering means, and means for causing circular movement of the wa ter during its upward movement below said strainer.

12. An apparatus for making infusions of cofiee comprising in combination an upper hot water tank having a support therebelow, a filtering means disposed on said support and including an outer vessel, the latter having a bottom discharge opening, a cover for the outer Vessel and having a central aperture, gripping means depending from the cover within the vessel, said filtering means having a grindings vessel disposed within the outer vessel and spaced therefrom, the inner vessel being held by said gripping means, a strainer disposed across the top of the inner vessel and having an aperture aligned with the aperture of said cover, and a water pipe passing from the tank through the aligned apertures and having a discharge end within the grindings vessel near the bottom thereof.

BL'AIR, W. GAIR. 

